Ventilating and heating device



Oct. 28, 1952 J JENN VENTILATING AND HEATING DEVICE 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1Filed Oct. 3, 1949 Patented Oct. 28, 1952 VENTILATING AND HEATING DEVICEv Louis J. Jenn, Indianapolis, Ind, Application October 3, 1949, SerialNo. 119,225

r 1 This invention relates to a device comprising an integral unit whichprovides ventilation and a means of auxiliary heat to a room. Thisdevice is adapted to be completely recessed in a wall with only anornamental grille visible. The device is constructed and arranged towithdraw air from a room, circulate air in aroom or warm the circulatingair if it is so desired. It is particularly desirable to have such adevice in a bathroom to remove moisture laden air or to circulate warmair and it is also desirable to have such a device in a kitchen towithdraw air laden with cooking odors or hot air resultin from the useof a stove or. oven.

. Itis an object of this invention to provide a single unit device whichcan withdraw air from a room or circulate the same and heat it if it isso desired.

It is another object of this invention to provide a ventilating devicecomprising a housing or casing which can be conveniently disposed in awall between adjacent studding and communicate with a room with only agrille being visible. I

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide a ventilatingdevice comprising a casing constructed and arranged to be disposed andsupported between a pair of studdings, the same having an open top andupper and lower front openings, a fan for drawing air into said loweropening, a heating means extending across said upper opening and adamper for directing said air either out of said top or through saidupper opening and through said heating means.

, These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fullyset forth in the following description made in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer tosimilar parts throughout the several views and in which: I

, Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the device recessedin a wallbetween the studding';

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation showing the grille and part of thecasin in dotted line;

Fig. 3 is a view in front elevation with the grille removed showing onetype of fan;

Fig. 4 is a view in vertical section taken on line 4 -4 of Fig. 3 in thedirection of. the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a view in front elevation with the grille removed showingapropeller type fan and some parts being broken away; and

.Fig. 6 is a view in verticalsection taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5 in thedirection of the arrows. Referring to thedrawings, in Fig. 1 aperspective view of a partof abuilding structure is shown 6 Claims. (Cl.98 33) 2 comprising the studding I0, the joists H, the rafters I2 andthe roof portion 13. This is of usual construction. Mounted on a crossmember [5 secured between adjacent studs I0, as by nails I6, is oneembodiment of the ventilating device 20 of this invention, the samebeing shown in perspective. As shown, this device can be completelydisposed between adjacent members of studding and of course could be ofdiiierent' sizes. The applicants device comprises a housingv or casing2|. This housin 2| is box-like and generally rectangular in horizontaland verticalsection and is made of a sheet material, such as wood ormetal. The said housing has a bottom 2 la secured to cross piece l5,sides 2 lb, a rear-wall 21c and an open top 21d. The said housing hasupper and, lower front openings Zle and 2| f respectively. The upperfront portion 2 lg adjacent the upper edge of said housing 2| isrecessed slightly. A pyramidical cap 22 is provided which extendsupwardly from and fits about the upper edge portion of said housin 2|.The said cap has a cylindrical portion 22a. A discharge duct 23isprovided shown as of cylindrical form which extends upwardly betweenthe studding into the attic or upwardly through the roof. If extendingthrough the roof, as shown in Fig. 1, said discharge duct may beprovided at its top with a cap 24. I Extending transversely across thefront of said housing are spaced horizontal cross members or bars 25, 26and 21 secured adjacent the top, ad jacent the middle and adjacent thebottom thereof respectively. These cross members may be made of wood,are rectangular in vertical section and may be secured to the sides ofsaid housing in any suitable manner, as by nailing. The cross members 25and 26 serve to define the upper and lower openings He and 21f. Securedto and extending between members 25 and 26 in the upper opening 2| e area plurality of spaced electrical heating coils or conductors 28, forminga heating unit. Electrical current to said coils or conductors iscontrolled by a toggle switch 29 disposed in a chamber in member 26 andhavin a forwardly projection handle 29a. Electrical current is providedthrough a suitable conductor 30. Secured to the inner side of crossmember 25 by screws 32 is a hinge 35 to which is swingably secured adamper 36. Said damper is made of sheet material, such as metal. Saiddamper is moved in an arc backwardly and upwardly and said hinge is soconstructed as to position said damper at either end of the arc in whichit moves or at an intermediate point. For movement of said damper, ahandle 3! is pivotally secured to the same adjacent its lower end by apivot 24. Said handle is formed of a bar or rod extending to the frontof housing 2i and having an upturned end. Damper 36 is disposed in theupper front of casing 21 and at the rear of coils or conductors 28.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, a fan housing 42 is provided and is securedin the lower part of casing 21 and is spaced inwardly somewhat of thefront and back of said housing. Said fan housing is preferably made ofsheet material, such as metal, and has a generally cylindrical shapewith an upper portion curved upwardly to form a duct 420 leading intothe upper portion of casing 2|. A plate 43 extends across casing 2|through which the duct 42c passes and by which said duct is positioned.A circular air intake opening 42d is provided in the front 42a of thesaid fan housing. Brackets having circumferentially and equally spacedradial arms are secured exteriorly to the front and back of the said fanhousing respectivelyby bolts 49 and are centered thereon respectively inalignment with one another. Said brackets are secured to the said fanhousing by screws 48. An electrically driven motor 41 is provided and isdisposed in fan housing 42 and secured to the front bracket 45 by bolts48. Motor 4! is provided with an armature or driving shaft 49 which isjournaled in said brackets 45. Positioned about said motor and securedto shaft 49 is asquirrel cage type fan 50 rotating freely about motor41. A toggle switch 44 for controlling motor 4'! is provided.

A modification of the above described construction is shown in Figs. 5and 6. Secured to the front of the lower chamber is a face plate 5|provided with a circular opening 5m centered therethrough and forming anair intake. A motor 52 is provided having an armature or driving shaft53 extending forwardly therefrom. Said motor is positioned centrally ofopening 51a and disposed in the lower front of casing 2|. Motor 52 issecured by diagonally extending and cross braces 54 having their outerends bent at right angles and secured respectively to cross members 26and 21 and their inner ends similarly bent and secured respectively bybolts 58 to the housing motor 52. A propeller blade fan 59 is secured toshaft 53 and is driven thereby. A toggle switch 44 for motor 52 isprovided secured to member 21. A different form of handle 31a isprovided for damper 35 and is of upwardly curved form and securedadjacent the upper end of said damper.

A deflecting plate 60 is provided at the rear of fan 59. Said plateextends substantially the width of said casing 2|. It is secured byscrews Bl at its lower edge portion to cross member 27. Said plate isinclined upwardly and rearwardly and is secured in any suitable manner,as by welding, to the rear of the casing 2| at the upper'portion of itslower chamber.

Overlying the front of housing 2! is an ornamental grille provided witha plurality of openings formed of spaced vertical bars 66 in its lowerportion and spaced radially extending bars 61 in its upper portion topermit the free movement of air therethrough. Openings 68 and 69 areprovided in the said grille to respectively accommodate toggle switches29 and 44. Said grille is secured to said housing 20, as by screws 69aor other commonly used fastening means.

In operation, the applicants device will be recessed in a wall, as shownin Fig. 1. Housing 2| is conveniently disposed between adjacent studdingi0 and duct or conduit 23 extends upwardly between said studding. Crosspiece [5 can be located at any desired height. Only the ornamentalgrille will be visible on the wall of the room, such as a bathroom orkitchen. The discharge duct may lead into the attic of the dwelling orbuilding or it may extend up through the roof. This single unitventilating device has a high degree of utility in performing threrelated functions. By positioning the damper into a forward'orverticalposition, as is shown in Fig. 6, the discharge duct will be opento its full extent. Then by turning on the blower or fan, air will bewithdrawn from the room through the opening into the lower portion ofthe casing 2| and it will be forced upwardly and out through the exhaustduct 23.

When the damper is pushed backwardly to its full extent, as shown inFig. 4, the discharge duct will be closed off completely. When the fanor blower is turned on it circulates the air in the room by; drawing itin through opening 2|] into the lower portion of the casing 2| andblowingor forcing it back into th room through the upper opening 2 id.If desired, the heating coils 28 may be turned on when the air iscirculated back through the room. This air. passesthrough the heatingcoils and is warmed in its passage. Thus this device may serve as anauxiliary heating unit.

By positioning the damper at any point between its fully opened orvertical position. and its fully closed position, the amountof airdischarged or circulated can be readily adjusted to the comfort of theoperator. Also by positioning the damper, as shown in Fig. 4, any backdrafts occurring when the unit is not in use are prevented from enteringthe room.

Thus it is seen that I have provided a ventilating device with highlydesirable features which is compact, easily installed and highlyefficient in its operation. t is conveniently disposed between studdingin a wall. It can be used to quickly withdraw odors from a room ormoisture laden air or it can circulate air as it is or warm it as itpasses through heating coils. It can, as shown and described, fitconveniently between the studding of the building. Thi device hasparticular usefulness in a bathroom or a kitchen.

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in theform, details, arrangement and proportions of the-parts, withoutdeparting from the scope of applicant's invention, which generallystated, consistsin a devicecapable of carrying out the objects above setforth, in the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and defined inthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A heating and ventilating device having in combination, a housing ofgeneral parallelopiped form and substantially rectangular in frontelevation and disposable in a wall of a room and between a pair ofvertically extending studding, said housing having" lower and upperfront openings disposed substantially in a common vertical plane, saidupper opening providing an outlet into said room and said lower openingproviding an intake for air from the said room, a fan in the lower partof said housing closely" adjacent and having its inlet side facing saidlower opening, a discharge duct secured to the top of said housing andextending upwardly between said studding and having a discharge endcommunicating with the atmosphere, a damper pivoted about a horizontalaxisadjacent the top of said upper openr 7 in and disposed in saidhousing at the rear 0 said upper opening and adapted to be swung to afront substantially vertical position for directing all of the air drawnthrough said lower opening up through said discharge duct or to be swungto a rearward position for directing all of said air through said upperopening into said room or to be positioned at some intermediate point todivide the passage of air by directing the same through both theexhaustduct and the outlet into the said room, means secured in upperopening extending across the same for warming air passing therethrough,and means for so positioning said damper whereby different amounts ofthe air in said room can be circulated through said housing and said airmay be warmed if so desired.

2. A ventilating device adapted to be disposed between adjacent studdingin a wall having in combination, a housing of general rectangular formin cross section and in front elevation and M having an open front andan opening at its top, a member extending between said studding andsupporting said housing, upper, lower and intermediate bars extendinghorizontally across said front forming upper and lower openingscommunicating with said room, a fan casing in the rear of said loweropening having an intake opening adjacent and alined with said loweropening and having a discharge outlet at its top substantiallyhorizontally alined with said intermediate bar, a fan in said casing, aswinging damper hinged to said upper bar about a horizontal axis andadapted to extend vertically to said intermediate bar so as to closesaid upper opening and direct air from said discharge outlet upwardlythrough said top of said housing or to swing rearwardly with its bottomedge in the rear of said discharge outlet so as to direct air from saiddischarge outlet through said upper opening.

3. A ventilating device having in combination with adjacent studding inthe wall of a room, a box-like housing disposed between said studding,said housing having an open front and an openin in its top, an outletduct extending vertically from said latter opening upwardly between saidstudding to a point exteriorly of said room, said open front comprisingupper and lower openings communicating with said room, a plate-likedamper hinged at its upper edge about a horizontal axis adjacent the topof said upper opening and adapted to be disposed to close said upperopening, a fan in the rear of said lower opening, a bracket secured tosaid housing, a motor carried by said bracket having a driving shaft towhich said fan i secured, said fan acting to draw air from said roomthrough said lower opening and discharge the same upwardly through thetop of said housing when said damper is in position closing said upperopening or through said upper opening when the lower end of said damperis swung rearwardly.

4. The structure set forth in claim 3, a plurality of spaced heatingelements extending across said upper opening, and means for positioningsaid damper in an intermediate position so that part of the air drawnfrom said room is dischargedthrough the top of said housing and air isdischarged through said upper opening and heated.

5. A heating and ventilating device having in combination, a housing ofgeneral parallelopiped form and substantially rectangular in frontelevation and disposable in a wall of a room and between a pair ofvertical studding, said housing having a partition dividing the sameinto upper and lower chambers, spaced bars extending transversely at thefront of said housing between and at the remote upper and lower sides ofsaid chambers respectively, a fan casing in said lower chamber, a fan insaid lower chamber rotatable about a horizontal axis, said lower chamberhaving a front opening forming the inlet for said fan, a motor in therear of said fan having a drive shaft secured to said fan, a bracketembracing said motor and having radially extending arms securedrespectively to the lower pair of said bars, said fan casin having anoutlet opening extending through said partition with an open endadjacent said partition, a conduit leading from the top of said upperchamber to the atmosphere, a damper pivoted to the upper of said barsabout a horizontal axis, said upper chamber having an openin between theupper two of said bars, heating elements extending across said opening,a handle secured to said damper and extending to the front of saidhousing, said damper being movable to a substantially vertical positionfor closing the opening at the front of said upper chamber for directingair from said fan through said conduit and being movable to a rearwardposition for directing all the air from said fan into said room, pastsaid heating elements and also bein movable to intermediate positionsfor directing some of the air into said room and some of the air throughsaid conduit.

6. The structure set forth in claim 5, and a grill secured to the frontof saidhousing, said grill having an intermediate portion provided withan opening through which said handle extends, and provided with openingsin front of said heating elements and also provided with vertical spacedopenings in front of said lower cham- 'ber.

LOUIS J. JENN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the die ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 509,332 Smith Nov. 21, 1893699,183 Jones May 6, 1902 1,395,93 Barducci Nov. 1, 1921 1,820,779Carson Aug. 25, 1931 1,921,900, Wood Aug. 8, 1933 2,007,102 Wallace July2, 1935 2, 87,889 Newport Jan. 23, 1940 2,448,671 Hord Sept. '7, 19482,471,784 Siefner et al May 31, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date562,266 Great Britain June 26, 1944

